Observer News: Obituaries September 16, 2010
Obituaries September 16, 2010
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admin on 16/09/2010 21:10:47
TORRES-RIOS, Aida
Aida M. Torres-Rios passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Sun City
Center, FL on Thursday, August 26, 2010. She leaves her beloved son Roberto and
wife Noreen, two grandchildren (Robert and wife Lisa, and Kim), five
great-grandchildren (Evan, Robbie, Julia, Zachary, and Nicholas), her faithful
pet Lollypop, and many dear family members and friends, with a truly great
legacy. Aída emigrated to New York City from Puerto Rico, married, and raised
her family in Yonkers, NY, where she lived for fifty years, until her retirement
to Sun City Center, FL in 1996. She was a dedicated community advocate. Her
lifetime achievements and heartfelt community service for the Puerto Rican
movement in NY earned her the respect and esteem of those with whom she came in
contact. Aída was the recipient of many awards in acknowledgement of her
steadfast commitment to community service. For her pioneering, and co-founding
work, the Spanish Progress Foundation honored her on September 6, 2003. Among
her awards – The NY Governor Mario Cuomo’s Special Certificate, for her
twenty-three years of public service in the NY State Department of
Labor—Employment Division. Westchester County Executive Andrew P.
O’Rourke’s Certificate of Appreciation for her wise guidance as a
distinguished member of the Westchester County Hispanic Advisory Board; and
Former Yonkers Mayor John D. Spencer’s acknowledgement for Aída’s unique
appointment as the first Hispanic female to serve as a Yonkers Human Rights
Commissioner. Other awards include the Unity for Service National Exchange Club
recognition for cooperation rendered to the Crime Prevention Committee;
Distinguished Service Award from the Human Relations Council of Longfellow
Junior High School; and the Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Prince of
Peace, Catholic Church Award in 1997, in Sun City Center, FL. A devout Catholic,
Aida served as volunteer at St. Peter’s Church in Yonkers for many years;
Minister of Consolation/Bereavement and Minister of the Eucharist at Prince of
Peace Catholic Church; and Reservation-Telephone Chairperson of the East Bay
Christian Women’s Club—Sun City Center. Her funeral mass was Tuesday,
August 31, 2010 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, followed by interment at the
Hillsboro Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home in Brandon. Aída touched the lives of
many, was loved by many, helped by many in her later years, and will be
remembered by many. A heartfelt thank you to the many–the Rios family.
COWAN, Winifred
Winifred Stuart Cowan was born January 23, 1919, in Edinburgh, Scotland and died
at age 91 in Sun City Center, Florida. Her parents, Robert Robertson Jack and
Jessie Stuart Jack came to the United States in 1921 (when Winifred was age 2)
on the SS Celtic entering through Ellis Island. The family settled in Tampa,
Florida, where she grew up from age 4. Winifred graduated Hillsborough High
School in 1937. She worked as a secretary in an insurance office until she
married Warrant Officer – 1 Coy Cowan on September 25, 1942, in Boise Idaho,
and lived as a typical military wife for the next 21 years.
Col. Coy Cowan retired in 1963 and they settled in Tampa, Florida. They moved
to Freedom Plaza on September 1, 1992. Winifred’s volunteer work included the
Rosa Veldez Settlement House in Tampa and the Palma Ceia United Methodist
Church. Her volunteer work at Freedom Plaza included ROC and the library.
Her canny Scot’s ability to manage money made it possible for Winifred and Coy
to participate in the MOBC Scholarship program, sponsoring eleven students to
date, as well as providing support to the Florida United Methodist Children’s
Home.
Winifred was a member of United Community Church in Sun City Center, Florida.
Memorial Service to be held Friday, September 17, 2010, at 10:00 AM in the
Freedom Plaza Auditorium.
BENEDICT, Joseph
Joseph (Joey) Benedict was born on October 16, 1965 and died August 19, 2010. He
was the son of Bonnie Walton Benedict and the late Joseph L. Benedict. He is
survived by his sister, Bonnie Sharkey; nephew Joshua Sharkey; and niece Emily
Sharkey of Morgantown, WV.
At his request, Joey was cremated and his ashes will be scattered at Slippery
Rock (PA) State Park.
Memorial services will be held at Carnegie Presbyterian Church, Carnegie, PA. In
lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joey’s name to
LifePath Hospice, 908 American Eagle Blvd, Ruskin, FL 33572.